Combination of cervical manipulation with cervical conditioning exercise for cervical spondylosis of neck type or nerve root type:a clinical study / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of combination of cervical manipulation with cervical conditioning exercise for the treatment of cervical spondylosis of neck type or nerve root type. Methods Seventy-two patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (37 patients) or a control group (35 patients) by using a random number table. Patients in the treatment group and in the control group were treated with combination of cervical manipulation or cervical manipulation only, respectively. At the end of treatment and 3 months, treatment effects were assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results NDI scores in both of the treatment group and the control group after treatment were significantly lower han those before treatment (t=4.471 in the treatment group, t=3.599 in the control group, all P<0.05), and NDI score in the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (t=-2.085,P<0.05). Follow-up at 3 months, NDI score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t=-4.549, P<0.05). Proportions of improved patients, as assessed by NDI items, including pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, sleeping, driving and recreation in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control groups (Z=-3.521,-3.331,-3.003,-3.001,-3.265,-3.198,-3.016,-3.000,-2.102,-2.971, respectively, all P<0.05). VAS scores in both of the treatment group and the control group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (t=7.986 in the treatment group, t=6.507 in the control group, all P<0.05), and VAS score in the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (t=-2.426,P<0.05). Follow-up at 3 months, the VAS score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t=-7.065, P<0.05). Proportions of improved patients in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (91.89% vs 74.29%; χ2=4.014, P=0.045). Conclusion Combination of cervical manipulation with cervical conditioning exercise may be superior to cervical manipulation only for the treatment of cervical spondylosis of neck type or nerve root type.